Swimming pool cleaning tool



Nov. 6, 1956 s. G. BIXBY SWIMMING POOL CLEANING TOOL.

2 shets-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 23, 1954 Suzanne 6. B/lrby INVENTOR. ma.

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Nov. 6, 1956 s. G. BlxBY SWIMMING POOL CLEANING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /v Filed Feb. 23, 1954 Suzanne 61E/)wy INVENTOR 9 WM MW United States Patent f() SWINIMING POOL CLEANING TOOL Suzanne G. Bixby, Northridge, Caif.

Application February 23, 1954, Serial N0. 411,898

3 Claims. (Cl. 210-206) This invention relates to a swimming pool cleaning tool and more specifically provides a device for easily cleaning leaves or other refuse from swimming pools without the necessity of the usual vacuuming process.

An object or" this invention is to provide a swimming pool cleaning tool which is generally horseshoe shaped and having bristles around the rear and two sides of the device with a trap-door in the front of the device thereby permitting entry of leaves or other refuse and preventing the dislodging of such leaves thereby permitting the person cleaning the pool to move the leaves over the main drain of the swimming pool thereby removing the leaves or refuse from the pool by the normal suction of the pool filtering system.

A further object of this invention is to provide a swimming pool cleaning tool having anY elongated and pivotally mounted handle for easy and eifective cleaning of theswimming pool without undue difculty.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a swimming pool cleaning tool having a streamlined body design thereby permitting the operator of the tool to easily guide and direct the cleaning tool through the water wherein the action of the fluid facilitates the cleaning operation.

A still further important object of this invention Vis to provide a`swimming pool cleaningtool Whichis simple in construction, efficient in operation, well adapted for its purposes, universal in utility and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.- A

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the swimming pool cleaning tool of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the construction of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken substantially 'along section line 33 of Figure 1 showing the details of construction of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical section taken substantially along section line 4 4 of Figure l showing other details of construction of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of the swimming pool cleaning tool of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view showing the handle attachment of the device of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the cleaning tool of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a transverse, vertical section taken substantially along section line 8 8 of Figure 5 showing the details of construction of the handle attaching means of the modified form of the cleaning tool.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and especially Figures 1-4, it will be seen that the numeral 1li generally designates the swimming pool cleaning tool of the present invention and includes a polygonal -body member 12 of hollow construction and airfoil Shape having depending flanges 144 about two side portions and one end portion. The front end portion of the body 12 is provided with a downwardly curved ange 16 which forms an airfoil shaped body member 12. An elongated tubular handle 18 is attached to the upper surface of the body portion by utilizing a mounting plate 20 having a member 22 pivoted thereto by a suitable hinged axis 24. The mounting member 22 is attached along side the upper surface of the tubularhandle 18 by suitable bolts 26 having wing nuts 28 thereon. A tensioned coil spring 36 is positioned around one of the bolts 26 at one of its ends and at its other end is attached to a hooked member' 32 on the rear edge of the body 12 thereby urging the handle 18 downwardly about the hinged axis 24; The upper surface of the housing 12 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 34 and a plurality of depending bristles 36 are secured to the under edge of the depending anges 14 about three sides of the body 12. These depending bristles form generally a Ueshaped member with the bight portion of the U-shaped'member being adjacent the handle member 18 and the open end of the U-shaped member being disposed adjacent the front ange 16 of the body 12 for purpose described hereinafter. A trap-door or flap 38 extends across the front portion of the body member 12 and forms a closure for the interior of-the body 12. The trap-door 38 is pivoted about a horizontal aXis 40 and a stop member 42 is provided forwardly of the trap-door 38 to prevent forward pivoting of the trap-door 38. This permits in ward swinging of the trap-door 38 to a position shown in dotted line in Figure 3 thereby permitting entry of water, leaves or other refuse into the interior of the body 12. The apertures 34 in the upper surface of the body 12 permits water to flow therethrough but prevents the passage of trash or leaves.

Referring now specifically to Figures 5 8,V it will be seen that the tool 10' of `this form of the invention in'- cludes a body portion 12 Vof the same or similar construction as the device in'Figures 1-4. Amounting'plate 44 is secured centrally of the body 12' and adjacent the front edge thereof. A pivot bolt 46 having a wing nut 48 thereon is passed through an attaching lug 50 for securing the lug S0 thereon for adjustment about a vertical axis dened by the bolt 46. A hinge 52 forming a horizontal axis connects the attaching lug 50 to a member 22 which is secured to the outer circumference of a solid handle 54 by suitable Wing bolts 56. It will be seen that the forward portion of the body 12 has a downwardly and inwardly curved portion and each end of the rear portion of the body 12 is provided with upstanding rudders 58 which assist in the guiding of the cleaning tool 10 and prevents ysideward or rearward movement. Apertures 34 are positioned in the upper surface of the body 12 and permit the passage of the water therethrough. The operation of the device Figures 5-8 is substantially the same as that in Figures 1-4.

The operation of the device in Figures 1-4 will be readily understood. By grasping the handle 18, the body 12 with the bristles 36 engaging the swimming pool bottom may be urged forwardly thereby moving the water into the interior of the body 12 as the trap door 38 is urged about its pivot axis 40. The passage of Water and any trash or leaves that may be accumulated into the interior of the body permits the leaves or trash to be moved along the bottom of the swimming pool to a position over the main drain of the swimming pool wherein the suction created by the swimming pool filtration system will remove the leaves from the cleaning tool 10.

The :passages 34-permitrthe passage of water through the body 12 as the body fis moved forwardly and also .when the body is positioned over the main drain. The trapdoor 38 remains open asy long as the body 12 is moved forwardly and when the tool is -stopped .or moved rearwardly, the trap-door 38 pivots about its'aXis-A to a .substantially vertical positionV against the stop member 42 therebyV preventing the leaves or other trash from becoming dislodged from Vthe cleaning tool. This .permits rapid and effective cleaning of a swimming pool without the use .of the usual vacuuming equipment. Obviously, theV handle 1,8 may be as long as desired thereby permitting V the cleaning of the pool from the edges thereof and the particular shape of the body 12 provides a device which moves easily through the fluid and due to its` particular configuration, this movement through the iuid will cause the bristles 36 to'engage the pool surface with more pressure. The hollow body 12 may be constructed of suitable plastics or other usable material and the bristles 36 imbedded therein in a suitable manner. y v

-The operation of the brushk 10" illustrated in Figures 5`8 is similarexcept for the stabilizing'feifect provided by lrudders 58 andthe adjustment feature for handle 54.

vFrom the foregoing', the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modications and changeswill readily occur to those skilled-inthe art, it is not desired to limitthe invention tothe exactfconstruction shown and described, and accordingly Vall suitable modifications and equivalents may ,belresorted to, falling within the scope of the appended ,claimsy What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A Swimmingpool cleaning Vtool comprising a body member having a depending flange around the periphery thereof, bristles secured to Vsaid ange about a portion v of the periphery of the bodyY member, and an elongated handle secured to said body member, said body member Vheinghollow Vand provided with apertures in the upper surface thereby permitting circulation of uid, the body member being generally polygonal with the bristles being disposed on the sides and rear thereof, the ange on the front of said body member terminating above'the lower end of said bristles thereby forming an `entrance for permitting water to ow into the interior of said body member, a trap door vpivotally suspended from the front of said body member and forming a portion of said ange,

Va Astop on said body to preclude forwardswinging movement of the door beyond a vertical position thereby providing a check valve for uid passing through the body Vmember.

2. A swimming pool cleaning tool comprisinga polygonal hollow body having depending rear and side anges, a handle secured to said body, bristles secured to the side and rear anges, a pluralityv of, apertures in the upper surface of said body, and a trap door pivotally mounted across tbefront of said 'body providing a closure for an entrance into said body at the front thereof, said trap door preventing return llow of fluid from the frontof said body, said apertures permittingV passage ofY fluid through said body.

V3. A cleaningV tool comprising a generally flat body member, a depending peripheral flange on a portion of the body member, bristles secured to said flange thereby forming an entrance into the interior of the flange and bristles, said body member having a plurality of apertures therein Yfor permitting circulation of fluid through the entrance and apertures, and a handle on said body member -for movement thereof, said body member having Va pivotally mounted trap door depending from a portion thereof,

said trap door forming a closure for the entrance formed by the depending ange anidrbristles, said trap door being mounted for inward swinging movement to permit entry Vinto the interior of the flange and bristles, and a stopV member on said body member for engaging the trap door thereby preventing outward swinging movement thereof pastk avertical closed position thereby preventing vreturn ow from the interior of the ange and bristles through the entrance formed thereby. v

References Cited in the Vfile of this patent v o UNITED` STATES PATENTS Great Britain V May 21, 1931 i emv- 

